High School Insider: Canadian Attackman Oliver Changes College Choice; Matthews, Manhasset Have Moti

IL High School Insider Joe Lombardi, the author of the “Lax with Joe” blog at LaxLessons.com, focuses on the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut tristate region. Joe is also an analyst for the MSG Varsity television networkand is the primary author of the new edition of “Lacrosse for Dummies,” which was released in 2010. You can follow Joe Lombardi on Twitter @joe_lombardi. You can follow LaxLessons on Twitter @LaxLessons.

Josh Oliver is heading south.

The 6-foot-3 attackman, a Canadian native who is a senior attackman at the Vermont Academy, has decommitted from Quinnipiac University and will now attend Jacksonville University.

“Jacksonville offered me and my family a great package financially and Coach Guy van Arsdale is really putting a program together that wants to win,” Oliver, a strong feeder and finisher, told LaxLessons.com.

For more on Oliver’s decision, including his highlight tape, check the full story.

Manhasset’s Matthews Sees Classmates Stepping up

Two-time defending New York State Class C state champion Manhasset’s move up to Class B resulted in a Nassau County Class B final every bit as intense and exciting as anticipated.

It wasn’t the result Indians senior Ryan Matthews wanted, but the Johns Hopkins University-bound midfielder says the 6-5 setback to Garden City has motivated his team.

“We’ve been working hard as a team in the weight room and also during winter practices,” Matthews told LaxLessons.com. “Our goal as seniors is to bring the Woodstick back home and win the state championship.”

For more on Matthews’ perspectives on the season, including the six classmates he expects will surprise people this season, check out the full story.

Yorktown’s Cooley Sizes Up Season

Another Division I-bound senior, Yorktown (N.Y.) defenseman Eric Cooley, also expects some of his classmates to step up and assume bigger roles this season.

“We have a core group of seniors this year, including Brian Quigley, Nick Johnson, Joey Sialiano, Fitim and Gzim Lajqi, Joey Raniolo, Vin McLiverty and Hunter Palancia that I believe are going to step up and surprise some people with the skill they each possess,” the 6-foot-3, 230-pound Cooley told LaxLessons.com.

Britton Anchors New-Look Darien Defense

There will be plenty of new faces on defense for Connecticut’s defending Fairfield County champions, the Darien Blue Wave.

That’s why senior Tony Britton will be more important than ever.

The Cornell-bound Britton will be anchoring the unit.

“With the graduation of our entire starting defense – aside from myself – I think players on the defensive side of the ball will make names for themselves and surprise a lot of people,” Britton told LaxLessons.com.

For more info on how the Darien D is shaping up heading into the start of practice, be sure to read the full article.